Process and composition for improving cereal products



May 10, 1932- J. P. IOANNU L858,093

PROCESS AND COMPOSITION FOR IMPROVING CEREAL PRODUCTS "Filed April 16, 1950 Patented May l0, 1932 s@.LILQNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "TOHNPZIOANNU, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PENNSYLVANIA composition 4:for treating iour and more par-- Application tiledA April 18,

kplilyinfvention relates to a novel process and ticularlyitrelates to a process and composition for improving the strength, baking qualyitiesfand colorgof the wheat Hours and other cereal products. y

One' object of my invention is to provide a process and 'composition for treating flour in which the strength, baking qualities and color are improvedin a marked manner Withno possibility of overtreatment effects.-

- l A further object is to furnish a process and composition-for improving the qualities of Vflour during ,the milling operations by the use of uhichfonlyJ-negligible quantities ofentire- .ly'harmlesswforeign materials are added to vthe flour-,gtheash content of the 'our after treatment showing no increase when tested V`accordingfto.the usual standard methods of testing.

Still anotheriobject is to provide a process and a composition of matter which acts both physically and `chemically to improve the flour, by controlling and favorably affecting ftheformation of gluten in the dough and the state of'a-ggregation of the different proteids and at the same time exerting a mild bleaching action on the flour without producing overtreatment eiiects.

:Ot-her objects will be apparent froma con- .sideration ofthe specification and claims.

`.Herctoforawthe processes and compositions,suggestedmffor .use in bettering the `S5111g,'th offiour produce a very small impl'memlltiif any, on the flour and include the use of chemicals in rather high concentrations, generally above 1% of the weight fof the flour. Thus foreign substances are introduceditotliejiour in substantial amounts ljandsincetheiiir' is graded by its ash coniiourr'Fm'thernire, the substances used in :bleachingth'etlours because of high chemical activity are not subject to control and quite `frequently produce over-treatment effects w f sALrnANUr-Acrrunme coxrANY, or rmADELrmA, PENNSYLVANIA, A conf wronATIoN or PENNSYLVANIA .A

rnocnss AND conrosrrroN' ron maovrNG oERnAr. PRODUCTS 1930. Serial No. 444,790.

tively and consistently the degree of ag egation of the various proteids in the our during the mutual irreversible precipitation of them, thus governing the plasticity, elasticity, imbibition and swelling properties of the gluten formed. A progressive mild bleaching action also takes place which affects in a favorable manner the 'color of the products treated without producing overtreatment even when the resulting product is stored before use. The composition of the present invention is used in such small proportions that the foreign materials introduced in the iour, although entirely harmless, are of such small amounts that they are negligible; the analysis of the treated iiour by the usual standard methods of testing gives an ash content no higher than that of the untreated ilour. vHence, the treated Hour is placed in the same grade as the untreated Hour. A

Hereinafter in the specification and claims Where the statement is made that the amount of compositionv added to the cereal product is less than that percentage which will appreciably increase the ash content of said product, it is to be understood that the amount added is such that the grade ofthe cereal product treated with the composition, remains the same as that of the untreated product, when judged according to the usual commercial standards of flour grades based on their ash content.

. My invention contemplates the use of a composition which relies for its effectiveness on the specific action of ammonium radicals on the materials in the flour. The composition contains at least two ammoniacal compounds, atleast one of which is an .oxidizing compound and at least one of which is a nonoxidizing compound.

The composition is so adjusted that .during the treat-ment of the Hour, the specific action of ammonium radicals is maintained and is effective in bringing about the control of the aggregation of the various proteids vper cent. improvement in volume. Vare two curves on the plot one showing the and the progressive bleaching action on the materials in the flour. The concentration of,

'-gards the bleaching action without increasing the ash content of the flour treated in any detectable or appreciable degree.

As a result of extensive work, I have found that an increase in the amounts of ammonium radicals present inthe flour causes anin-A crease in the improvement obtained up to a certain Vpoint and that when the amount added reaches this point, no further improvement is encolmtered. In the attached curves, the amount of ammonium radicals vin 10,000 parts of wheat flour is plotted against the There improvement with spring fiour and the other sho the improvement obtained with winter flour. It will be seen that additions between .1 and 2.5 parts of ammonium radicals per 10,000 parts of flour improve the qualities of the iour but that the use of amounts greater than 2.5 parts does not increase the improvement. Although these curves show the improvement with the two types of wheat flour mentioned and the amount of improvement found in any particular flour or cereal product varies with its lorigin and chemical composition, it has been found that the improvement'obtained by the use of the com.- position of the present invention falls within the two extreme curves shown in the drawmg Since the ammonium radicals must be added in the' form of salts, the ammonium compounds added are those in which the specific action of the ammonium/radicals in the flour or cereal product is possible, and which are entirely harmless from the standpoint of human consumption. The compounds used are ammoniacal salts ,and may be inorganic or organic. For example, the ammonium salts of the halides, the sulphur-oxygen groups and the phosphorous-oxygen groups are applicable. The last two named groups may be of any valence, that is at any of the different possible stages of oxidation. Of the organic groups, the tartrates, lactates, succinates, citrates, and the like may be mentioned. These mentioned groups either organic or inorganic are not to be considered limiting for other similar groups Vjoined to the ammonium radical may be employed provided the compound used is harmless and sufliciently maintains the specific action of the ammonium radicals in use. A mixture .of various combinations of ammonium salts gives excellent results. If desired, the active ammonium ,salts may be modified 'somewhat by the addition of inert materials for dilution purposes and to aid i-n the dispersion of the as dilutents in any convenient proportion to obtain a product of a decreased activity to satisfy the needs of the different types of The drawing is based on parts of ammonium groups per 10,000 parts of ilour but since the composition contains also the acid groups as well as possible diluents, the actual weight of composition to Hour used is correspondingly increased. The percentages used vary considerably depending. on the Hour or other cerealproduct and on the results desired; but for most purposes the ratio of composition to flour is 1.5 to 3 grams of composition to 10,000 grams of Hour. This amount improves the flour in a visible and very substantial degrec. Instead of using the crystallized salts, if it is desired, the mother liquors resulting from the manufacture of ammonium salts may be used, for example, the mother liquors from the manufacture of ammonium persulphate. The composition may be added to the flour at any suitablestage, care being taken that the composition is thoroughly and uniformly distributed in the Hour. I prefer to add the composition to the flour immediately after milling for-then the subsequent sifting and the like insures homogeneity in the product.

As typical formulae for the composition of the present invention, the following are given FommZaA ,Parts Ammonium chloride 20 Ammonium sulphate 30 Ammonium persulphate 30 Ammonium phosphate 20 Formula1? Parts Ammonium acid phosphate 20 Ammonium mono-persulphate 2-5 Ammonium di-persulphate 58 Sodium phosphate 3 Calcium phosphate 16 Formula@ Parts Ammonium sulphate 20 Ammonium mono-persulphate 10 Ammonium persulphate Ammonium acid phosphate 15 Calcium acid phosphate 5 FormuZaD Y Parts AmmoniumI chloride 10 Ammonium sulphate 30 Ammonium perborate 30 Ammonium phosphate 20 Ammonium tartrate 5 Ammonium citrate 54 F ormula E v Parts Ammonium sulphate .18 Ammonium di-persulphate 58 Ammonium mono-persulphate 2-6 Sodium phosphate 4 Calcium phosphate 18 real products which are diiicult to bleach.

When a stronger bleaching action is desired than is obtained with the use of the above formulae, strong oxidizing agents of organic or inorganic nature may be used in conjunction with the formulae. The exact amount added depends on the bleaching action desired and may be as high as 15% or 20% of the weight of other materials. The inorganic or organic peroxides, such as benzoyl peroxide, the peroxides of the fattv acids and the like give excellent results. The perborates, perphosphates. and the anhydrides of organic acids may also be used as they and like compounds are' suitable for the purpose. If 15% of benzoyl peroxide is added to the materials of Formula E. a composition having excellent properties. both from the standpoint of improving the properties of the flour and of bleaching it. is obtained.

p From these formul, it will be seen that various mixtures of ammonium compounds in various proportions are applicable with or without the use of such compounds as the sodium ,or calcium phosphates without departing from the essential features of my inventi on. Furthermore, considerable variation 1s possible 1n the amount of composltion added to the flour or other cereal product to.

produce the desired results, all of which is within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A composition for improving the qualities of and for bleaching cereal products which comprises a mixture of at least two ammoniacal compounds, at least one of the ammoniacal compounds being an oxidizing salt and at least one being a non-oxidizing compound, said composition to be used in admixture with said cereal products in amounts less than that percentage which' will appreciably increase the ash content of said cereal product.

2. A composition for improving the qualities of and for bleaching cereal products which comprises a mixture' of at least two ammoniacal compounds, at least one of the ammoniacal compounds being an oxidizing salt and at least one being a non-oxidizing compound, and a dilutent, said composition to be used in admixture with said cereal products in amounts less than that percentage which -will appreciably increase the ash content of said cereal product.

0 3. A composition for improving the qualities of and for bleaching cereal products which comprises a mixture of the ammonium salts of sulphuric acid and of a persulphuric acid, said composition to be used in admixture with said cereal products in amounts less than that percentage which will appreciably increase the ash content of said\cerea1 produc 4. A composition for improving the qualities of and for bleaching cereal products` which comprises a mixture of the ammonium salts of sulphuric acid and of a` persulphuric acid and a dilutent, said composition to be used inadmixture with said cereal products in amounts less than that percentage which will appreciably increase the ash content of said cereal product.

' 5. A composition for improving the qualities of and for bleaching cereal products which comprises a mixture of ammonium sulphate, ammonium di-persulphate, ammonium mono-persulphate and a phosphate other than ammonium phosphate, said composition tobe used in admixture with said cereal products in amounts less than that percentage which will appreciabl)T increase the ash content of said cereal product.

6. A composition for improving the qualities of and for bleaching cereal products which comprises ammonium sulphate 18 parts, ammonium di-persulphate 58 parts, ammonium mono-persulphate 2 to 6 parts, sodium phosphate 4 parts, and calcium phosphate 18 parts, said composition to be used in admixture with said cereal products in amounts less than that percentage which will appreciablv increase the ash'content of said cereal product.

7. The process of improving theV qualities of and bleaching cereal products which comprises treat-ing the cereal products in a powdered condition with a composition including a mixture of at least two ammoniacal compounds, at least one of which is an oxidizing salt and at least one of which is a nonoxidizing compound, the amount of compo-l sition added being below that percentage which will appreciably increase the ash content of the cereal product.

i 8. The process of improving the qualities of and bleaching cereal products which comprises treating the cereal products in a powdered condition with a composition including a mixture of at least two ammoniacal compounds, at least one of which is an oxidizing salt and at least one of which is a nonoxidizing compound, the total amount of ammonium radical being between .1 part and 2.5 parts per 10,000 parts of cereal products and the amount ofA composition added being below that percentage which will appreciably' increase the ash content ofthe ce. real product.

9. A cereal product containing a composition including a least two ammoniacal compounds, at least one of which is an oxidizing salt and at least one of which is a non-oxidizing salt, the amount of composition added being below that percentage which will appreciably increase the ash content of the cereal product.

; A cereal product containing a composition including at least two ammoniacal compounds, at least one of which is an oxidizf ing salt and at least one of which is anonoxidizing salt, the composition being present such that the total amount of ammonium radical is between .1 part and 2.5 parts per 10,000 parts of cereal product, and the amount of composition added being below thatl percentage which will appreclably increase the ash content of the cereal product.

11. vA composition for improving the qualities of and for bleaching cereal products which comprises a mixture of ammonium sulphate, ammonium di-persulphate, ammonium mono-persulphate, a phosphate other than ammonium phosphate and a peroxide capable of exerting an oxidizing action, said composition to be used in admixture with said cereal products in amounts less than that percentage which will appreciably increase the ash content of said cereal product.

12. A composition for improving the qualities of and for bleaching cereal products which comprises ammonium sulphate 18 parts, ammonium di-persulphate 58 parts, ammonium monopersulphate 2 to 6 parts, sodium phosphate 4 parts, calcium phosphate 18 parts, and benzoyl peroxide in amounts equal to approximately 15% of the weight of the other materials, said composition to be used in admixture with said cereal products in amountsless than that percentage 'which willappreciablyr increase the ash content of said cereal product.

13. The process of improving the qualities of and bleachin cereal products which comprises treating t e cereal products in a powdered condition with a composition including a mixture of at least two ammoniacal compounds, at least one of which is a'sulphateand at least one of which is a persulphate, the amount of composition added being below that percentage which will appreciably increase the ash content of the cereal product.

14. The process of improving the .qualities of and bleaching cereal products which comprises treating the cereal products in a powdered condition with a composition including a mixture of ammonium sulphate, ammonium di-,persulphate, ammoniumv monopersulphate, and a phosphate other than ammonium phosphate, the-amount of composition added being below that percentage which will appreciably increase the ash content of the cereal product.

15. A cereal product containing a composition including at least two ammoniacal compounds, at least one of which .is a sulphate and at least one of which is a persulphate, the amount of composition added being below that percentage which will appreciably increase the ash content of the cereal product.

16. A cereal product containing a composition including ammonium sulphate, ammonium di-persulphate, ammonium mono-persulphate, and a phosphate other than ammonium phosphate, the amount of composition added being below that percentage which will-appreciably increase the ash content of the cereal product.

JOHN P. IOANNU. 

